The city provides monthly brush and bulk item collection, offering residents a convenient way to dispose of items too large for refuse containers.

Residents are asked to have brush and bulk items out for pick up by 5 a.m. on Monday the week of scheduled service.
Here’s the upcoming schedule:
** McDonald Drive to Thomas Road and Happy Valley Road to Pinnacle Peak Road: Week of July 13.
** Thomas Road to McKellips Road and Pinnacle Peak Road to Bell Road: Week of July 20.
** Bell Road to Cholla Street and Dynamite Boulevard to northern city
limits: Week of Aug. 3.
** Cholla Street to McDonald Drive and Dynamite Boulevard to Happy Valley Road – includes Sundown Drive between Cactus Road and Shea Boulevard: Week of Aug. 10.

The Scottsdale Police Department’s Investigative Services Bureau is part of a group receiving the Group/Task Force Award for Excellence in Cooperative Law Enforcement on July 22. The award is from the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, a Valley group made up of local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The award recognizes the efforts of several agencies during NBA All-Star Weekend last February.

Increases in violent and property crimes had occurred during previous
All-Star weekends in other cities — that didn’t happen in the Valley.
Incidents were especially low in Scottsdale, even though the city’s
entertainment and shopping districts were near capacity with players,
celebrities and fans. Scottsdale police were assisted by units from Mesa, Chandler and DPS and the Phoenix Emergency Operations Center.

Scottsdale’s Vista del Camino center, located at 7700 E. Roosevelt St., is serving as one of the Valley’s designated water hydration stations this summer.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The purpose of the stations is to protect the health of vulnerable populations, such as those living on the streets, during the summer heat by providing locations where they can go to get free bottled water and if needed, sunscreen wipes, lip balm and hats.

Scottsdale Healthcare is partnering with the city to provide the supplies, plus information on the dangers of extreme heat. The stations also accept public donations of bottled water or other
appropriate material such as light colored t-shirts, sun block, socks and underwear, hats, and pre-packaged snack items.

Residents and businesses are invited to provide input for the Scottsdale
Airport Strategic Business Plan.

The Airport Advisory Commission will hold a hearing on the plan during its next meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. The meeting takes place at the Scottsdale Airport Terminal, 15000 N. Airport Drive.

The goal of the business plan is to ultimately determine the focus and
guidance for future planning and development at the airport. Four potential business scenarios for the airport have been developed to
determine the best approach to keep Scottsdale Airport efficient and
effective and providing long-term benefits to the city and surrounding
community.

After more than a year of renovation and renewal, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is embarking upon a new era with the opening of its state-of-the-art Virginia G. Piper Theater and a star-studded 2009-10 season of dance, jazz, classical and world music, theater and satire.

Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth will be the first to perform on the new stage as part of the Oct. 24 ARTrageous Celebration, a benefit for the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

The new 852-seat Virginia G. Piper Theater will offer the latest lighting
and acoustic technology as well as dramatic improvements in sightlines,
climate control, seating and audience accessibility. Most importantly, the theater’s intimate character, which has long been its hallmark, has been thoughtfully enhanced. Outside the theater, the updated and renamed Dayton Fowler Grafman Atrium has likewise been transformed into a more welcoming and comfortable space that offers visitors many improved amenities, such as a new box office, mezzanine and café managed by Arcadia Farms.

Commissioned by the Scottsdale Public Art Program for the atrium, a radiant work by artist Kana Tanaka will feature more than 100 blown-glass pieces illuminated with fiber-optic lighting.

The muddiest show on (or in) earth returns July 17 when Scottsdale’s Mighty Mud Mania flings into action for the 34th time.

Activities run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road. This year Might Mud Mania has a lead sponsor — Henkel Consumer Goods Inc., marketers of well known brands such as Dial soap.

Mighty Mud Mania features activities for kids in two age groups, 6 and under and ages 7 to 17. The younger group can enjoy the Mini Mud Course, Mudville (a “funtown” of mud), mini waterslide, mudpit and sand castle building. Older children can try the Original Mud Obstacle Course, waterslides, sandcastle building, and mudpits.

Participants must wear lace-up or Velcro shoes (sandals and flip-flops are not allowed) and must bring a signed permission slip or have a parent or guardian available at the event to sign one.

Scottsdale firefighters will provide a “kidwash,” so children can go home
clean. Fully rinsed kids who bring along clean swimsuits and towels can
also enjoy a free swim at Chaparral Pool from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Residents can call 480-312-2771 to be put on a list to receive Mighty Mud Mail, or e-mail terickson@scottsdaleaz.gov to be put on an e-mail list for detailed information, permission slips, parking map, and everything needed for the event.

There is also an MMM answer line at 480-312-2704. About 200 volunteers are needed to staff the event each year. Muddy and
not-so-muddy jobs are available. Please call or e-mail the numbers and
address listed above by July 6 to volunteer.

Valley Metro bus and rail fares increased Wednesday, July 1.

Riders are asked to plan ahead, especially for purchasing an all-day bus fare. Passengers who purchase an all-day pass at a light rail platform fare vending machine or at one of 80 select locations and stores prior to boarding a local bus can save $1.75 off of the on-board bus full-fare price.

The cost for a one-ride trip on the Valley Metro local bus, METRO light rail and the LINK bus (limited-stop service between Superstition Springs Center and Sycamore Station in Mesa) will now cost $1.75, and an all-day pass is $3.50. Purchasing an all-day pass at the farebox on the local/LINK bus will cost $5.25.